I'm back!

[mushu mama]

Siam Reap would be amazing...

[churros]

So how many days will you have in Singapore and what dates?

[calisota]

So how many days will you have in Singapore and what dates?

At the moment...arrive in Singapore 22/3 at 09.30 and leave 23/3 at 23.45. It's only 1 night but pretty much 2 full days. I would arrive in Bangkok at midnight and sleep in the airport before catching an early flight back to Luang Prabang on Saturday morning, just in time to work on the new timetable Saturday afternoon.

Greg

[calisota]

Siam Reap would be amazing...

Angkor Wat has been on my bucket list for an awfully long time and to only be a couple of hours away and miss it would be really, really annoying.

Greg

[calisota]

Everything is booked and (mostly) paid for!

Going to be in KL on 12, 13, 14 of March and then Singapore on 15 and 16.

Who has been to KL and what is there to see, given that there is no way I am going up those towers.

Yes, I do plan on spending all of the 16th at Universal Studios because my plane doesn't leave until 22.45. The scary part is that entry to the park is going to be the single most expensive thing about the trip.

Greg

[churros]

Yes, I do plan on spending all of the 16th at Universal Studios because my plane doesn't leave until 22.45. The scary part is that entry to the park is going to be the single most expensive thing about the trip.

Greg

Looking forward to your trip report!

[mushu mama]

given your fear of heights, I'm guessing the forest canopy walk is out...

so... fish spa?
shopping?
Firefly cruise?

[KeithS]

I went to KL back in 2000 but I was there to see the Formula One race and nothing else. On top of that, it was the middle of the Asian financial crisis, so the City was a bit of a mess due to the lack of money to finish half completed infrastructure projects. That said, I understand it is a great place to visit now, and knowing you Greg, you'll have no trouble finding interesting things to do there.

[calisota]

so... fish spa?
shopping?
Firefly cruise?

I've seen the fish spas in Bangkok and they don't really appeal. i can think of better people to suck on my toes than a bunch of small fish.

Shopping is okay as long as it has buttons, lights and goes boing. I'm not sure what i need in that respect though. Maybe a video camera.

The firefly cruise sounds shiny though. (1000 points to anyone who gets that).

The only problem I can see with Universal Studios is that all the attractions seem to be roller coasters. Nothing much for the more sensible sort of person. Maybe I should go to the zoo instead?

Greg

[calisota]

That said, I understand it is a great place to visit now, and knowing you Greg, you'll have no trouble finding interesting things to do there.

It's true that I can spend an entire day just enjoyably walking around and getting lost. I have 2 full days to get lost and, more importantly, to try as much of that street food as I can. Malaysia is famous for it's fusion of Asian cooking and I intend to sample as much as I can.

I'll probably take a photo or two of the Petronas towers but I figure they must be as impressive looking up as they probably are looking down.

Greg

[mushu mama]

I've seen the fish spas in Bangkok and they don't really appeal. i can think of better people to suck on my toes than a bunch of small fish.
Greg

Fergie?

[calisota]

Don't know if anyone has noticed that I've been a bit quiet the last few days...but do I have a story for you.

On Friday night a volunteer had to leave class early because of stomach pains. I got a call that she was coming back to the guesthouse so I met her there. She was in so much pain and didn't have the usual symptoms of gastric type complaints that I had a feeling it was something serious and bundled her into a tuktuk and took her to the hospital. The doctor on duty examined her and said it was most likely her appendix. By now the manager of the project had gotten to the hospital so we were making phone calls to her insurance company and trying to get a second opinion from another doctor. Eventually a more senior guy said that it may be her appendix or it may be enteritis. He wanted to wait until morning to make a final decision.

To cut a long story short, the diagnosis in the morning was that it was appendicitis and the insurance company organized an emergency medical evacuation. I got to fly to Bangkok with her in a special plane, just her, me and 3 EMTs. I even got whisked through the diplomatic channel at Bangkok airport to get my passport stamped and then into the waiting ambulance to the hospital. They were operating on her about 4 hours after we left Laos. I have spent the last few days hanging around the hospital, with a few shopping trips into the city, and got back to Laos this afternoon. She came through it all fine and now has a souvenir DVD of the operation.

Let me tell you, if you want any sort of medical treatment then Bangkok is the place to go, if you can afford it. Her private room would not have been out of place in a 5 star hotel, if it wasn't for the bed. City view, big TV, room service, fresh flowers in the bathroom etc etc.

It also proves the point that you should never leave home without travel insurance!

Greg

[KeithS]

Wow. That would have been a terrifying experience for her but quite an adventure for yourself having a trip in a medical evacuation jet. I am glad everything worked out okay in the end.

[churros]

Did her insurance cover your expenses?

[calisota]

Did her insurance cover your expenses?

Her insurance covered my flight to Bangkok, since I was just an extra on the plane anyway, but after that it was all up to me.

Greg